After receiving the sub-quest, Mercedes almost started immediately and planned to stay in the library for a couple of hours. However, she underestimated the sub-quest. Because of this, she had a tough time going through the reading session of 20 books.
It gave her a headache that lasted hours. But luckily for Mercedes, the reading session concluded in the early evening. Mercedes was exhausted beyond relief. She didn't want to have any thoughts. However, she persisted and returned home.
Kiara had already returned from school and had gone to her room after eating dinner. Regine, on the other hand, was cleaning the living room and waiting for her oldest daughter to return home.
As Mercedes entered through the front door, Regine had a peculiar expression on her face. She knew that her daughter was ready to take care of herself. But no matter the case, she couldn't help but get nervous when Mercedes returned at night.
Such were mothers' rationale
Mercedes could do nothing but wryly smile at her mother. The reading session took longer than expected and it must have made her mother worried. Regine could only sigh and point at the table where a meal for Mercedes was already prepared.
"Thanks, Mom."
Mercedes bowed towards her mother and walked towards the table feeling her stomach grumble. She passed by her mother who felt a bit surprised to see the shopping bags on Mercedes's hands.
Regine was surprised to see how many things Mercedes had bought. It was hard to see it at first, but now that her daughter had walked through the living room. The shopping bags were as clear as day.
Before entering the kitchen, Mercedes placed the remaining cash on the table. It was more or less the same as the pocket money she had received from her mother. This triggered a suspicion within Regine.
How could her daughter buy so many things when the pocket money didn't appear to be very expended? Regine couldn't help but question. However, her worry was already foretold by Mercedes.
"It's my savings, Mom. I have been saving money for quite a while, which was enough for me to not spend my pocket money too much." Mercedes explained with a smile.
Regine quite doubted that reasoning. But she chose to trust her eldest daughter. So she continued cleaning the living room while the Cafe also closed.
Mercedes placed the shopping bags right beside her as she started eating her dinner. It was still warm, which meant that her mother had recently placed it in the microwave.
Mercedes couldn't help but reveal a soothing smile, making her feel lucky to have her mother by her side. She wanted to stay with her family and not go on another journey without them. After all, she couldn't help but feel that she had been spending most of her time in training.
'I feel unfilial.' Mercedes thought to herself. She wanted to become closer to her family, but Virtual Journey has been impending her intentions to be with them. Despite only a day passing by since entering the virtual world. It was still a long time for Mercedes.
Concluding her meal, she returned to her room while carrying the shopping bags. Mercedes wanted to help her mother clean the house. But exhaustion could be seen on her face. Regine forced her eldest daughter to take a rest since she could handle everything herself.
While lying on her bed, she thought about the tiring reading session. To be honest, Mercedes had learned a lot of things from the books despite the headache. She could feel her knowledge growing at a great pace.
Because of her high adaptability and intellect, Mercedes was a bit confident in the reading session tomorrow. Although, she understood that confidence was different from reality. Only time will tell the truth.
A couple of days passed by. It was the fourth day of the sub-quest reading session and Mercedes was currently staying in the local library.
She was becoming more confident as more days passed. Mercedes had almost learned everything regarding the high school curriculum and was now entering college. She realized one thing about the college curriculum. It required a course for her to choose.
Reading all of the books of every college course would take a long time even for Mercedes, so she couldn't help but wonder what kind of course she would pick in college.
Mercedes wasn't that interested in getting a job. After all, she had recently entered high school. Why would she waste her time thinking something about the far future? Though, if there was something she needed to pick.
Those were the courses related to business.
She wanted to learn everything that was associated with business since in the Federation. Wealth was the one that speaks and following it was none other than connections.
Mercedes wanted to start her business empire but she understood that it wouldn't be an easy goal. There were also many types of business she could choose. And some of them might not even be legal ones.
Though, she would rather avoid illegal businesses since it wouldn't bode well with her family.
Anyhow, with the amount of knowledge she had gained from the reading session. Mercedes couldn't help but wonder if she could graduate early with her intellect. After all, that would be easier and better than wasting her time at school.
But she understood that school wasn't all about education. It was all about the social interaction and experiences that would be unique to the late stage of teen life. While she wasn't interested in any of that. There was no need to be impatient.
Mercedes kept reading while a couple of books were stacked up on the table in front of her. She wore eyeglasses and had a white t-shirt covered by a brown leather jacket. A pair of skinny jeans was also strapped on her legs along with some jet-black boots.
Her outfit reminded her of the time she had in the virtual world. It looks like her preferred aesthetics from that time was seeping through reality.
Nonetheless, as she reads through one of the books related to the finals of the high school curriculum. She noticed a white-haired girl once again. The white-haired young lady kept glancing at her since the second day of the reading session.
Mercedes was a bit bothered by it and wanted to ask the young lady to stop. However, she noticed that the young lady was just ignorant. The young lady's expressions and body language already revealed her intentions towards Mercedes.
Curiosity... Why? She didn't know and didn't plan on knowing.
'I'm almost done." Mercedes muttered to herself and closed the book before taking another one on the table. She closed her eyelids and took a sip of breath. Opening her eyes, her sapphire-like eyes gleamed with luster and she continued the reading session.
She was fortunate to have a high attribute of intellect. Otherwise, her brain would have exploded if she had done such a thing before the long training with the old man.
Mercedes navigated through the pages. Without even noticing it, a couple of hours passed. Glancing at the window, she saw the pitch-black of the night. Mercedes sighed to herself and returned home after taking a short stretch.
Kiara was taking off her uniform while Regine was busy in the Cafe. The customers were flooding one after another as apartments were being constructed at a fast pace. Mercedes understood that more workers would be needed along with some security.
Since the district wouldn't be as humble as before.
Mercedes entered her room and fell to the soft bed without wasting any more time. She wasn't hungry and wanted one thing in her life. That was sleep. She needed to close her eyes to prevent herself from losing more of her sanity.
This was the life of Mercedes ever since the sub-quest began.
Anyhow, two days passed as the reading session reached its seventh day. Mercedes looked extremely energetic because of her increased understanding and the fact that this was the last day. Her suffering was finally reaching its end.
Entering the local library every day took a lot of willpower for Mercedes. Even if she was adapting to the pressure of reading 20 books in one session. Mercedes's exhaustion was still as severe as before.
It made her wonder why her supposedly strong body was being beaten by a book.
Nevertheless, Mercedes was back at the local library and sitting in the same chair as the past six days. But there was something different about this day. Mercedes raised an eyebrow while staring at the figure in front of her.
It was the strange white-haired young lady.
'Why is she in front of me now? Is there something wrong? Or is she planning to attack me?' Mercedes swiftly shook her head and got rid of her thoughts. Why was she always assuming an attack? She wasn't in a warzone and was far from the Frontier of the Imperium.
Mercedes gathered some determination and confidence as she began a conversation with the white-haired young lady who was calmly reading a book.
"Hello, I'm Mercedes Reed." Mercedes placed her book down and wanted to shake hands with the white-haired lady. The young lady appeared to be disgruntled after hearing Mercedes's voice but gathered herself immediately and swiftly gave a response.
"Ah- Uhmm... Hi, I'm Aurora Silverhearth." The white-haired lady, who was Aurora, stuttered at first before introducing herself. Mercedes hearing the response felt the name a bit familiar. Though, instead of guessing around. It was time for Mercedes to use her communication skills.
"Hey, what book are you reading? It seems interesting."